Free Web NovelChapter 1970: Chapter 1970: The Rule-Breaking Candidate and the Final Method
Did the miracle descend as a result? Even "Edwards" himself couldn’t say for sure, for what appeared was a shadow with an indistinct face.
"Edwards" couldn’t discern who this was or whether it truly was himself from a time that had vanished.
Yet the blood-red spikes behind him still shot out and absorbed that shadow called forth by the relic into his body.
The familiar bloodline became a part of himself, as that shadow was indeed a member of the Edwards Family, perhaps even possessing more complete bloodline than he did. The bizarre and twisted power lifted him from the ruins of the banquet hall into the sky. The robe, once smeared with the filth of battle, turned pitch-black, yet all the wounds on his body healed as a result:
"So this is how it is; the past in the present, I’ve really succeeded this time..."
The starry sky vanished, the moon vanished, the snowfall vanished, even the blood mist disappeared, leaving only yellow sand billowing in the air. In the pitch-black night sky, a twisted black vortex appeared, in a shattering sound of glass that nearly made all sorcerers below the high ring faint, the space above the island shattered.
Outside this island on the reverse of the material world, in the fog-cloaked reality of the Green Lake Region, the circle sorcerers also heard this shattering sound. Then, above the Central Island of Green Lake, the deep darkness was shattered like a mirror, a massive vortex appeared in the sky, creating a pull, the dispersing white mist first flew toward the void vortex, followed by the lake water, then the dust and fallen leaves on the ground. The suction gradually increased, the vortex rapidly expanded.
"Did he gather 16 family members?"
"He’s lost his qualification, he knows this will lose him his qualification."
The same scene occurred above Green Island, or rather within two interlocking maze locks. The black vortex expanded above "Edwards," its suction threatening to devour everything.
Iluna softly spoke behind Shard, barely supporting herself against a column of the bell tower. Sweat dampened her hair, her brown locks sticking to her face, making her appear especially haggard:
"He violated the rules. The Chosen cannot harm this world. He summoned some calamity, completely shattered the balance of space. Although he is still alive, though he gathered 16 family members, he has been abandoned, just like death abandoned Joey Barton. The first candidate for Chosen of Space no longer exists... I feel the balance is utterly broken, the uncontrolled space is destroying the Green Lake Region. We must act swiftly, otherwise, the disaster of space collapse will completely descend upon the material world tonight."
She bit her lip, knowing Shard too faced a difficult decision:
"The first candidate was abandoned by the world, part of the second candidate has already died. Now it’s your butterfly’s turn, Shard. If this is their fate, then fate has come before them. If you still want to twist this fate, show me what you can do. If you can’t, then let me try."
She wanted to use her Balance Talent to temporarily stabilize the ruptured space, but as she moved, she felt her whole body ache.
Shard hurriedly supported her:
"Iluna, you’ve done well tonight."
"Then what’s your choice?"
Supported by Shard, she widened her eyes and looked at him:
"Should I go, or will you finally trust their power? Or yet again, do you want to be a hero and prepare to sacrifice yourself?"
"I understand, I understand it all."
He swiftly pulled off a silver pendant in front of his chest, embedded with the "Philosopher’s Stone," and from the knowledge brought out of the "Black Mist Camp," the spirit within him guided the Philosopher’s Stone to become spellcasting materials. Bright red light gradually melted the thumbnail-sized stone. Subsequently, a pink crystalline spike appeared in Shard’s hand, yet transformed into red due to the addition of the "Philosopher’s Stone."
Shard initially wanted to avoid this outcome but had a contingency plan prepared. Now, things indeed reached the final step, and he must try this unknowable result.
"They..."
Originally planning to use the power of the maze lock to bring suitable people to the right place but unexpectedly found everyone was already present. Shard had never disclosed his plan in advance, yet it seemed they knew this outcome all along, as if they had been waiting for this moment, waiting for Shard to make a decision.
At the top of the blood-red tree a kilometer away, "Edwards" floated beneath the massive vortex that emanated gravity, waiting for Shard to arrive.
Even if Iluna had borne all the spellcasting consumption before, this immense maze lock was about to vanish due to the end of the "Divinity Overflow" state. So, Shard knew he had only this one chance.
"Although I knew Edwards would surely do something astounding, isn’t this a bit too much?"
At the base of the blood-red giant tree, in front of Edwards’ Old House, Luviya, Megan, and Helen, disguised in appearance by the Red Butterfly, and Grace met with Lecia, Dorothy, and Angelina with Miss Danester.
Although surprised that little Mia and Angelina were here, Luviya knew now was not the time to ask.
"Do you all know what to do?"
The pitch-black sky seemed as if the apocalypse had arrived, and the gale made her hair and skirt flutter wildly. She loudly queried Dorothy and Lecia, as the two smiled and held hands:
"We didn’t know earlier, but now upon seeing you, we understand. Just a dozen minutes ago, we went through another trial. After finally deciding to abandon the intention to merge with each other, our perspective on this world seems entirely different. We’re not Diviners, but in that moment, we saw Fate. So that’s how it is; his thoughts are indeed peculiar. If that’s the case, it’s fine... it’s fine..."
Grace and Helen walked beside them, holding hands like sisters. The four gazed at each other, their expressions remarkably similar. freёweɓnovel.com
"Actually, I’m glad he ultimately made this decision."
Lecia softly said: frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"It means he finally fully trusts us, rather than simply considering us as butterflies meticulously protected within a birdcage."
"The gentleman is not adept at expressing emotions; he’s merely afraid of loss."
Grace in a white dress said, and Dorothy gently nodded:
"But he doesn’t realize, while he’s afraid of loss, we equally fear losing."
Helen in a black dress slightly pushed her chest out, catching sight of Angelina measuring her height and physique:
"This is the best outcome, yet the gentleman considers it the worst. If we’re merely trying to escape the whirlpool of Fate, then why have we spent all those countless times searching for his traces?"
"Laplace Klein Howard, do you know what you’re doing?"
On the hilly path leading to the Edwards’ Old House, more figures appeared amidst the fierce wind as an angry shout echoed. Witches, Thirteen-Ring sorcerers of the Church, Academy Professors, and several High Ring sorcerers from other organizations stood together, spellcasting to withstand the gale and suction. The Academy Professors were curious as to why Miss Danester, who left early, arrived here faster than them. But soon, they saw the others standing here.
Yet there was no time to comprehend the happenings here; the sorcerers, finally crossing half the island to get here, ascended in hopes of restraining the seemingly motionless "Edwards" beneath the vortex before the "God Summoner" acted.
However, the Diviner atop the giant tree didn’t even personally act; his body split into several identical figures to intercept them midair.
"Arcane Technique - Temporal Maze. Divide one’s own time and summon oneself from certain seconds past. Extremely dangerous, not to be used in the Sixth Era, or it could lead to temporal chaos."
This information naturally appeared in Luviya’s mind, though she didn’t know why she was so familiar with this Arcane Technique, as if she herself had wielded such power.
"What solutions does Shard have? If push comes to shove, he might have to risk using the Unclassified Level Relic. But will this make things worse or better; no one can predict the outcome."
Miss Danester didn’t ascend; she solemnly asked Luviya, who shook her head in surprise:
"Shard? Who are you speaking about?"
The Thirteen-Ring Female Sorcerer glanced at the cat being held, which was huddled against Angelina to shield itself from the wind:
"Don’t tell me this isn’t Shard Hamilton’s cat."
"Meow~"
Upon hearing Shard’s name mentioned, the cat immediately meowed. Megan originally wanted to explain for Shard but then looked up at the sky, revealing a smile at the corner of her mouth:
"Don’t worry; the God Summoner has made a move."
Utilizing the Maze Lock’s power, Shard once again flew solo from the southern Bell Tower/Lighthouse toward the giant tree’s summit at the island’s center. Compared to the other Thirteen-Ring Sorcerers embroiled in intense combat, he appeared exceptionally alone, and long lost the spirited demeanor he showed earlier when learning Edwards’ Ascension Technique using the Maze Lock and merging with Iluna.
Suddenly, a red light fell from his hand toward the crowd in front of the Old House but abruptly stopped before hitting the ground, casually caught by Luviya.
She carefully cradled the "Weapon" in her hands and presented it to the two pairs of sisters standing together.
The shape of the crystalline short spike was familiar to them, bearing the design of the "Love God’s Sting." Yet the short spike was no longer the ambivalence-inducing pink but had transformed into a blood-red hue.
Even the well-informed Miss Danester couldn’t immediately identify what this was.
As Dorothy and Lecia, Helen and Grace exchanged glances, they all smiled. Megan stood aside, her eyes wide open as if having realized something.
